Braiding-machine.



PATBNTBD APR. 18, l905.

A, LE BLANCr BRAIDING- MAOHNB;

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

A. LB BLANC.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. a. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@MM s1 No. 787,384. PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

' A. LE BLANC.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAH. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

A. LE BLANC. BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.B.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1 x y... a f

UNTTs Patented April is, 1905s.

STATES PATENT OFFTc/e.

ALEXIS LE BLANC, OF NIHV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO lhA lV. HENRY, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

BFAlDlNG-NIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,384, dated Apri] 18, 1905.

Application led January 3, 1904. Serial No. 188,183.

Beit l nown that l, ALicxrs Ln BLANC, a citizen of the United States, residing' at New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braiding'-.\Iachines, of which the following' a specification.

This invention relates to braiding' machinery` and more particularly to those braiders employing' two concentric series of bobbins moving' in opposite directions to each other, the threads from one series of bobbins l, eing' interlaced with those from the other; and its object is to provide a lu'aiding'machine of a much simplerl construction than any heretofore devised and of a greater braiding' speed.

In the accompanying' sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine. Fig'. 2 is an elevation. Fig'. 3 is an enlargement of a portion ot' Fig'. 1 to show the action of the pivoted guide-plates more clearly, the thread-carriers in this ig'ure being' at the end ot' the plates instead of at the middle. Fig'. JL is a vertical cross-section on line .1^ if', Fig'. l. Fig'. is an enlargement of part of the section in Fig'. -L to show the details of the thread-carrier mechanism. Fig'. (5 is an end elevation of the carrier and slides, the outer ring' being' removed and the slides being' shown in section. Fig'. i' is an enlarged perspective of a portion ot' the table F and one of the attached tongues. of part of a segment-block J, and ot those portions of the outer ringl which project inward between the recesses. These parts are shown disengaged from each other for clearness. but in their approximate relative positions.

Broadly. the main features of the machine shown in the drawings are an inner table or wheel carrying' one series of bobbins and rotatingl in one direction and an outer ring rotating' in an opposite direction and moving' a second series with it, the threads from one series being' g'uided under and over those of the other by means of radially-moving' threadcarriers. Each tln'ead-carrier being' moved radially in and out by a series ot' pivoted g'uidei plates and at the same time being' carried around with the inner table or wheel describes 3 a sinuous curve about the bobbins moved by the outer ring', thus ln'aiding' the two sets of threads.

l shall use the terms warp and woof bobbins and warp and woof threads" to conveniently distinguish between the two series of bobbins and threads, though it will he understood that neither series ol threads is properly either warp or woot'. I have applied the term "warp-threads" to those which are moved by the Outer ring' and always maintain a lixed distance from theaxis of the table. 1 shall call the wool'threads those which are moved in a sinnous or weaving path around the warp-threads.

The frame of this machine consists of a l ase-plate A, on which is bolted the vertical arm AY, which carries the braiding-receiver of', and the fixed vertical arms B, which extend upwardly above the driving-gears and form bearings Vfor the driving-shafts.

Jom'naled in the base of the arm A and in the base of one ot' the arms B is the horizontal shaft C, which carries at its outer end suitable driving-pulleys O' and at its inner end the bevel-gear U'.

The g'ear (f meshes at its lower face with the bevel-gear D, fast on the shaft l), which revolves at its lower end in a suitable bearing' Dl and carries at its upper end the table or wheel F. 'lhe upper face of the g'ear Of meshes with a bevel-gear E, fast on a sleeveshaft (i, on whose upper end are carried the upwardly-rising` arms which support and turn the outer ring' H.

The sleeve (nr surrounds the shaft l) and has a bearing' through the intermediate loose washer r/ on the upper face of a ring' which forms the upper termination of the arms B. The inner face of this ring' l; gives vertical support to the sleeve-shaft (iand the inclosed shaft l).

The shaft D, as `before stated, carries the horizontal rotating table or wheel F, and the arms (i carry the outer oppositely-rotating' ring' H. Theexactconstructionofthisring'and its supporting-arms is immaterial. They may be made in one piece or ot' an inner and outer ring' secured together by screws, so as to form For clearness,

one piece, as l have shown it.

and as the making it in two parts is a mere detail of construction, I shall re fer to it throughout the specification and claims as the outer ring H, without regard to the number of pieces that go to form it. The ring H is cut away onits inner edge into a series of recesses,

each recess being approximately a segment of a circle or ellipse. The exact curve of the edge of said recess is, however, a matter of practical application and is not material to the principle of my invention.

There are as many recesses as there are warp-bobbins to the machine, the edges of each of these recesses forming one side of an outer raceway L, along which the Woof-thread carriers move, the inner side of each of said outer raceways /L being formed by one edge of a plate I, said plate being longer in one direction than in the other and having side edges oppositely curved and intersecting each other at the ends of the plate. The outer half of this plate conforms in curve to the said cutout part of ring H, as shown clearly in the enlarged plan View, Fig. 3, which plate is shifted by the passage of the Woof-threads and their carriers, as will be hereinafter described, so as to guide the Woof-threads to one side or the other under and over the warpthreads.

Each guiding-plate I is pivoted to a segment-blocliJ, as shown clearly in the enlarged section, Fig. 5. This segment conforms on its inner edge to the curve of the outer edge of the wheel or table F and is grooved, as at j, to engage with a segmental tongue f on said table, as shown plainly in Figs. 5 and 7. These tongues, of which there are as many as there are plates I, are suliiciently short so as not to project into the radial slots in the wheel or table F, and thereby interfere with the movement of the thread-carriers. In order to allow for the passage of the tongues f past the projecting points 'b of the ring H between the recesses, it is necessary to groove said points, as shown at h2, Fig. 4, and in the enlarged perspective, Fig. 7.

The segment J, to which the guiding-plate I is pivoted, is shorter than the plate l, but of a length sufcient to always bridge the gap between two tongues. In other words, it will be always in engagement with at least one tongue, and therefore in horizontal alinement with the table F, though moving in an opposite direction thereto, and with the outer ring H. To prevent confusion of lines, I have shown this segment .I as made in one piece;

but it will be obvious that in order to place it in position on the tongue f it may be made in two pieces, afterward brazed or otherwise fastened together, or the tongue f may be made separate from table F and brazed or otherwise attached to said table after the segments and tongues are assembled. Between the plate I and the face of segment J is a washer ji, which raises the plate slightly above the face of table or wheel F to prevent friction. It will thus be seen that each of the plates I is shiftable in a rotary direction on its rocking-point.

A warp-bobbin K is supported by a vertical spindlel 7c3 on each one of the plates I, the lower end of the spindle being mounted in a foot la', which is held on plate I by the head of the pivot-pin I and prevented from lateral movement by a downwardly-projecting spur 7a2, which enters a hole in the face of plate I, as shown clearly in Fig. 5.

The bobbin K is omitted from Fig. 3 to avoid confusion, the construction being plainly evident from Fig. 5.

The thread L from the bobbin K is guided off by means of any suitable leader K.

I have shown and described the recesses in the inner edge of ring H as being a segment of a circle; but they might be the segment of an ellipse orV oblong with inwardly-directed ends without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention. The guiding-plates must conform approximately to the shape of the recesses; but with this exception the curves and proportions may be Varied to suit the necessities of any particular case.

It is understood that the description of one of the plates and bobbins applies to all.

Each of the Woof-bobbins L is supported on the upper face of wheel or table F, (on the spokes of said wheel, as I have shown it in the drawings) and the thread from each bobbin passes down through a suitable opening or between the said spokes to a thread-leader L', which leads the thread to a position approximately under the opening of a thread-carrier M. l indicates a small leaf-spring on the edges of the opening, Linder which the thread Z is passed. There are as many of these carriers as there are woof-bobbins,and they are movedout and in in radial slots P in the circumference of table or wheel F and in ways O, which project outward from the table beneath the under face of outer ring H. These slideways O are placed on each side of the slots P, as shown in Fig. 6, and are grooved to correspond with the edges of the foot m of carrier M. The carrier consists of a Vertical tube m and a rearwardly-projecting' foot m, fitted to slide between the slideways O, the tube m projecting upwardly through the slot P to a height sufficient to carry the Woof-thread Z above the warp-thread 7s when the carrier is in its outermost position and yet short enough to pass the thread Z under the thread when the carrier is in its innermost position.

n is a spring held in the inner ends of slideways O and bearing at its end a crosshead a, which acts against the inner end of the foot m to press the carrier outward.

n2 is a guide-rod, fast at one end to the cross-head n@ which passes freely through a passage in a block n4, which forms the end of the slideway O, and has on its other end a head a3. This steadies the action of the crosshead n' and prevents its movement beyond the limit of the rod n2. It is unnecessary that this spring' act beyond the circumference of the inner table or wheel, as beyond that line the carrier is positively acted upon by the recesses in the outer ring, as well as by the outer edges of the plate I; but when the inner edg'e of the plate I acts upon the carrier to carry it inwardly then the force of the spring is of service to hold the carrier ag'ainst the edg'e of the plate and compel it to follow the curve thereof.

Though it is advisable to use the spring' n to hold the thread guide more positively against the edge of the interlacing-plate I, ,vet it is not absolutely necessary, provided the thread is led from a point on a line approximately coincident with the longitudinal axis of the plate l, as shown in the drawings, the tension of the thread always tending to pull the tlu'ezul-carrier back to a point in line with the thread-leader L and against one or the other edge of the guiding-plate.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Through the oppositely-disposed bevel-gears E and D and the shafts G and D the table or wheel F is driven in one direction, carrying' with it the woof-bobbins, while the ring ll is driven in the other direction, carrying with it in the curved recesses on its inner edge the pivotedguide-plates I. These plates act as interlacingplates to move the carriers as the table F rotates in and out along the slideways O, the carriers being' acted upon by the inner and outer edges of the plates alternately, thus passing the Woof-threads from each woot-bobbin alternately under and over the threads from the warp-bobbins. The alternate presentation of the inner and outer edges of the guide-plates is brought about by their being made movable, so that they alternately shift to open and close the outer track and close and open the inner track, and this shifting' of these g'uide-plates is accomplished without the aid of any other means than that of the tubes of the carriers themselves as they are carried forward by the rotation of the table and moved radially by the curves in the outer ring and the pressure of spring n. It must be understood that all of these carriers move in and out radially in the same direction and in the same time. Assuming that the machine is started with all the carriers at the outer extremity of their movement, as shown in Fig. l, at a point opposite the pivot l, then a rotation of the table F in the direction of arrow 3 and a rotation of the ring ll reversely carries the carriers in the direction of arrow 3 between the edg'e of the guide-plate and the outer ring, forcing one end of the plate I away from the outer ring and the other end of the plate to the rino'. By using a pivot I for the plate I provide most easily for the shifting of the plate to open and close the paths; but I do not wish to be limited thereto. lt will thus be seen that the travel of all the carriers from the middle of the recesses to the ends thereof in the direction of arrow 3 has pushed outwardly the entrance ends of all of the g'uiding-plates. As a consequence when the carriers pass out of the exit ends of the recesses the outer pat-hs are closed and the carriers striking' against the inside edges of the g'uiding-plates move inward to travel along the inner paths, being held against the curve of the guiding-plates by the springs rn. These springs as the carriers pass the rocking-points of the plates act through the carriers to force outward the exit ends of the plate, tlms opening once more the outer paths. It will thus be seen that each of the carriers, with its woef-thread, describes a sinuous path alternately inside and outsideof each of the warpbobbins and its warp-threzul.

\Vhile I have described above the. more turning movement of the plate, there is also a slight sliding movement of each plate with relation to the outer ring l'l, consequent on its not litting closely into the recess, which I have indicated by the closely-dotted lines in Fig. 3. The natural tendency of the relative movements in opposite directions of ring H and wheel Fis to force each plate to that end of its containing' recess opposite to the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 3. As the carrier moves in the outer path in the direction of the arrow 3 it turns the exit end of the guideplate inward, as described above, so that point of the plate is no longer in contact with the apex /i of the triangle between the. recesses. Immediately the carrier passes to the next plate the action of the rotating ring is to force the plate against the end of the recess, leaving said plate still turned as it was when the carrier passed from it, as shown in thel said closely-dotted lines. Now the following carrier moving along' the inner edge of the plate when it passes the pivot-point of the plate, because of the pressure of its spring, has not only a turning action on the plate, but a wedg'ing action also, which shifts the plate and its under segment in the direction of arrow 2 and again into the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order to limit the movementof the plates and prevent the forward end of the plate being' carried too far around by the actions of the opposite rotations of the table and ring, I provide a pin on the segmentJ, which projects upwardly through a slot f/ in the plate 1, as shown in Fig. 3.

I have described the motions of the plates I and thread-carriers assuming' that the ring H is moving in a direction reverse to that of the hands of a clock and that the table F is rotating' with such clock-hands; but it will be IOO IOS

IIO

understood that were the directions of rotation of the table and ring changed the motions of the carriers and plates would be also reversed.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be the preferable manner of mounting the movable guide-plates I, yet I do not wish to be limited to this manner, any form of movable interlacingplates which alternately present an inner and outer thread-guiding edge being within the spirit of my invention. Also I do not wish to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts, nor to the details of construction, as described herein. which may be modified in many ways without departing from the essential features of my apparatus.

I have throughout the specification referred to the part F as a table or wheel; but for the sake of brevity in the claims I use the term wheeL it being understood that said term wheel is intended to include any form of rotating plate, table, wheel, ring, or spider, solid or spoked. Again, the word ring is used as including any form of outer mounting which will hold and carry the plates I in relation to the center table or wheel.

rIhough I deem it best that the Woof-bobbins be mounted as shown, I do not wish to limit myself to this arrangement; nor do I wish to be limited to a machine rotating in a horizontal plan e, as it is obvious that my mechanism could be easily adapted to a machine with a vertical table and ring. It is evident, too,that the tongue-and-groove connection between the wheel and segments might bev reversed from that shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a braiding-machine having two series of bobbins, and means for moving one series in a relatively opposite direction to the other; an automatieally-actuated interlacing-plate, a1- ternately shiftable to present alternate threadguiding edges, substantially as described.

2. In a braiding-machine, aseries of threadcarriers, a shiftable interlacing-plate for guiding one thread of the braid outwardly or inwardl y past another thread, the said plate having outer and inner thread-guiding edges, and being automatically shifted by the passage of a thread-carrier along one guiding edge to present the other guiding edge to the next following thread-carrier, substantially as described.

3. A braiding-machine having two series of bobbins, means for moving' one series in a relatively opposite direction to the other series, thread-carriers for moving the thread from one series, and a series of interlacingplates having outer and inner thread-guiding edges and being automatically shifted by the passage of a thread-carrier on one guiding edge to present the other guiding edge to the next following thread-carrier, substantially as described.

4. In a braiding-machine having two series of bobbins, an. inner wheel bearing one series of bobbins,an outer ring surrounding and having movement in an opposite direction relatively to the inner wheel, and alternately-shiftable guide or interlacing plates accompanying said ring, said plates carrying the other series of bobbins and adapted to guide the threads from the wheel outwardly or inwardly past the threads from said plates, substantially as described.

5. In a braiding-machine having two series of bobbins, an inner wheel bearing one series of bobbins an outer ring surrounding and having movement relatively to the wheel, and a series of interlacing-plates accompanying said ring, said plates being free to shift to present alternate guiding edges to guide the threads from one series of bobbins outwardly or inwardly past the threads of the other series, substantially as described.

6. In a braiding-machine having two series of threads, an inner wheel bearing one series, and an outer ring surrounding and having motion relative to said wheel, and provided with a series of recesses therein, guiding or interlacing plates shiftably disposed in the recesses of the ring, and means for shifting said plates so that they present alternately an inner and an outer guiding edge to guide the threads of said first-named series in a sinuous path outwardly and inwardly past the threads of the other series, substantially as described.

7. A braiding-machine having two series of threads, an inner wheel bearing one series of threads, an outer ring surrounding said wheel having a series of recesses on the inside thereof, and thread guiding or interlacing plates shiftably disposed in the recesses of the ring,

said plates having a sliding connection with the inner wheel whereby said wheel may move past the guiding-plates though supporting them, substantially as described.

8. In a braiding-machine, an inner threadcarrier-moving wheel bearing one series of braiding-threads, an outer ring surrounding said wheel and having another series of threads accompanying it, thread carriers moved by the said inner wheel, and shiftable interlacingplates for automatically guiding the thread-carriers to one side or the other of the threads accompanying said ring, substantially as described.

9. In a braiding-machine, an inner wheel, an outer ring surrounding the said wheel and having a motion in an opposite direction relative to said wheel, a series of bobbins supported on said inner wheel, thread-carriers accompanying said inner wheel and moving the threads therefrom, shiftable interlacing or guiding plates in the path of said carriers, and another series of bobbins supported on said plates, substantially as described.

10. In a braiding-machine, an inner wheel, an outer ring surrounding the said wheel and having'a motion in an opposite direction relal a direction opposite to the rotation of the intive to said wheel, a series of bobbins supported on said inner wheel, tlu'ezul-carriers accompanying' said inner wheel and moving' the threads therefrom, interlacing' or g'uiding' plates accompanying' said outer ring' in the path of the said tlu'ead-carriers, and a series of bobbins supported by said plates, substantially as described.

11. In a braichag-machine, an inner wheel rotary in one direction, an outer ring' surrounding' said wheel and rotating' in an opposite direction to the inner wheel, a series of bobbins supported on said inner wheel. threadcarriers accompanying' said inner wheel and moving' the threads therefrom, interlacing' or g'uiding' plates having' two opposite g'uiding' edg'es accompanying' said outer ring' in the path of said thread-carrim's, said plates having' a rocking' point and being' shiftable by the passag'e of a tlu'ezul-carrier to presentanother g'uiding' edg'e to the next following' carrier, and a series of bobbins on said plates between the guiding' edg'es thereof, substantially as described.

12. In a braiding-machine, an inner, rotary wheel; a series of thread-carriers radially movable thereon; and interlacing' or guiding` plates in the. path of movement of said carriers, said plates having' opposite g'uiding' edg'es, being' shiftable to alternately present the guiding' edg'es thereof to said carriers, and being' movable oppositely to the direction of movement of the inner wheel; and means for thus moving' said plates, substantially as described.

13. ln a braiding-machine, the combination with a series of tlu'ead-carriers having' radial movementoutward and inward, of a series of alternately-shiftable interlacing' or guiding' plates in the path ot' said tlu'ead-carriers, said plates having' two guiding' edg'es and having' means for holding' braiding-threads, substantially as described.

11. ln a braiding-machine having two series of bobbins, an inner rotary wheel, a series of thrcmd-carriers having' radial movement on said wheel for moving' the threads from one series of bobbins, and an interlacing'or threadg'uiding' plate in the path of movement of said carriers, said plate being' automatically shiftable to alternately present one or the other of its edg'es to said carriers to guide said carriers to one side or the other of the threads 'from the `other series of bobbins, substantially as described.

15. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, a series of tlu'ezul-carriers having radial movement on said wheel, a series of shittable interlacing' or tlu'ead-g'uiding' plates in the path of movement of said carriers, and supporting' one series of brai(ling-threads, and having' edg'es oppositely curved to each other outward and inward of the threads supported thereby, and means for moving' the plates in ner rotary wheel, substantially as described.

16. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel. a series of tlu'ezul-carriers moving' one series of braiding-threads, said carriers having' radial movement on said wheel, a series of shiftable interlacing' or tln'ead-g'uiding' plates in the path of movement of said carriers and su pporting' another series ot' braiding-threads, said plates having' oppositelycm'ved g'uiding' edges outward and inward of the threads supported thereby, an outer rotating' ring' having' recesses on the inner edg'e thereof con forming' in shape to the outer edg'e of a plate, the said shiftable guiding-plates being' disposed in the recesses ot' said ring` and thereby moved about the inner wheel by the rotation of said ring', substantially as described.

1T. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, a series of thread-carriers having' radial movement on said wheel, a series of shiftable interlacing' or threzul-g'uiding' plates in the path of movement of said carriers, said plates supporting' a series of threads and having' oppositely-curved cdg'es projecting' outward and inward of the threads supported thereby, an outer rotating' guitle-plate-moviug' ring' having' recesses on its inner edg'e conforming' in shape to the cm've of the outer edg'e of said iuterlacing'-plates, and forming' pockets in which said plates are disposed, seg'- ments underneath said plates in alinement with the edg'e of the inner rotating' wheel, said segments having' sliding' engagement with the circumference of said wheel, substantially as described.

18. lua braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, a series of tlu'ezul-carriers having' radial movement on said wheel, a series of shiftable interlacing' or tlu'ezul-g'uiding' plates in the path of movement of said carriers, said plates supporting' a series of threads and having' oppositelycurved g'uiding' edges projecting'outward and inward of the threads supported thereby, an outer rotating' guide-platemoving' ring' having' recesses on its inner edg'e each conforming' in shape to the curve of the outer edge of the said plate, and forming' pockets in which said plates are shiftably disposed, g'rooved segments underneath said plates in alinement with the edg'e of the inner rotating' wheel, and a series of tong'ues on the circumference of said wheel projecting' into and having' a sliding' engagement with the g'rooves of the seg'ments, substantially as described.

19. ln a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, a series of threzul-carriers having' radial movement on said wheel, a series ofshiftable interlacing' or tln'ezul-g'uiding' plates in the path of movement of said carriers, said plates supporting' a series of braiding-threads and having' oppositely-eurved g'uiding' talg'cs projecting' on either side ot' the threads supl'OO ported thereby, an outer rotating ring, having recesses on its inner edge each conformingin shape to the curve of the outer edge of the said plates and forming pockets in which said plates are carried, grooved segments underneath said plates in alinement with the edge of the inner rotating wheel, and a series of tongues on the circumference of said Wheel projecting' into and having a sliding engagement with the grooves of the segments, the said outer ring between the recesses being grooved to permit the passage of the said tongues on the wheel, substantially as described.

20. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, a series of thread-carriers, radial slideways on the wheel in which the said carriers move, a series of shiftable interlaeing or thread-guiding plates in the path of movement of said carriers, said plates su pporting a series of braiding-threads and having oppositelycurved guiding edges projecting inward and outward of the threads supported thereby, mechanism for holding said plates from rotation with the inner rotary wheel and means for forcing said carriers against the curved edges of the said shiftable plates to shift the same, substantially as described.

21. In abraiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, a series of thread-carriers, radial slideways on the wheel in which the said carriers move, a series of shiftable interlaeing or thread-guiding plates in the path of movement of said carriers, said plates supporting a series of braiding-threads and having oppositely-curved guiding edges projecting inward and outward of the threads supported thereby, an outer ring having recesses in which said plates are disposed, said recesses conforming in shape to the outer edges of the plates, but larger than said plates, and springs in said radial slideways, the said springs acting to force the carriers against the inner edge of the guiding-plates, and the curve of the said recesses forcing said carrier against the outer edge whereby the plates are shifted by the passage of a carrier, substantially as described.

22. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, an outer reversely-rotating ring, segments engaging with the circumference of said wheel but accompanying said'ring in the direction of its movement, interlaeing or threadguiding plates mounted on said segments, and supporting one series of braiding-threads, aseries of radially-moving thread-carriers traveling with said inner rotary wheel, and adapted to be moved out or in by the said guidingplates, and means for forcing said carriers against the edges of the guiding-plates, substantially as described.

23. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, segments engaging with the circumference of said wheel, a series of interlaeing or thread-guiding plates mounted on said segments having reversely-curved edges, and supporting a series of braiding-threads, an outer ring mounted to rotate reversely to the inner wheel, and having recesses on the interior edge thereof in which the plates are disposed, said recesses conforming to the curve of the outer edges of the plates but larger than said plates, and thread-carriers accompanying the inner wheel and adapted to follow the curved edges of said guidingplates and to shift the position of the guidingplates by contact therewith, substantially as described.

24. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel; thread-carriers traveling with said wheel and moving one series of braidingthreads; segments engaging with the circumference of said wheel; and interlaeing or' thread-guiding plates in the path of said earriers mounted on said segments, said plates supporting another series of braiding-threads and having' edges projecting outward and inward of the threads supported thereby, said plates being adapted to be shifted by the passage of a thread-carrier on one edge thereof so as to present the other guiding edge to the next following carrier, substantially as described.

25. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel; thread -carriers traveling with said wheel and moving one series of braidingthreads; segments engaging with the circumference of said wheel; interlaeing or threadguiding plates in the path of said carriers pivoted on said segments, supporting another series of braiding-threads and having edges projecting outward and inward of the threads supported thereby, said plates being adapted to be turned by the passage of a carrier on one edge thereof so as to present the other guiding edge to the next following carrier, substantially as described.

26. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, an outer ring rotating reversely to said wheel and having a series of curved recesses on its inner face, segments having sliding engagement with the inner wheel, interlaeing or thread-guiding plates having reversely-curved edges pivoted on said segments, the outer edge of each of said plates being engaged by said recesses in the outer ring to move therewith, radial slideways on said wheel, thread-carriers moving in and out on said slideways, and adapted to be acted uponby the edges of said guiding-plates, and means for forcing said carriers against the edges of the guiding-plates, each of said plates being adapted to be turned by the passage of a carrier on one edge thereof past the pivot-point of the plate so as to present the other edge of the plate to the next following carrier, substantially as described.

27. In a braiding-machine, an inner rotary wheel, an outer ring rotating reversely to said wheel and having a series of curved recesses on its inner face, segments having sliding engagement with the inner wheel, interlacing or thread-guiding plates having' reVersely-curved 5 edges pivoted on said segments, the outer edge of each of said plates being' eng'ag'ed by said recesses in the outer ring' to move therewith, radial slots on said wheel; slideways registering with the slots` attached to said wheel, and projecting' outwardly beneath the said guiding' plates; tlu'ead-carriers having' threadtubes adapted to be acted upon by the edges of i the guide-plates, and feet engaging with said radial slideways; and springs for forcing' said carriers against the guide-plates; each of said plates being adapted to be turned by the passage of a carrier on one edg'e thereof past the pivot-point of the plate so that the opposite edg'e of the plate will be presented to the next followingl carrier, substantially as described. QS. ln a l)raiding-machine, a shaft carrying an inner wheel, a sleeve-shaft snrroundingsaid wheel-shaft and carrying an outer ring snrrounding the inner wheel, said ringhaving a series of recesses therein, gearing for driving said shafts in reverse directions, one seriesof bobbins mounted on said inner wheel, radial slideways on the inner wheel, tlu'ead-carriers mounted to be moved in and out in said slidei ways for moving the threads from the wheel, a series of intr-rlacing or thread-guiding plates in the path of movement of said carriers in the recesses of the outer-disposed ring and having' a sliding engagement with the inner wheel` another series of bobbins mounted on said i guiding-plates, and a braid-receiver to which the threads of the two series are led, the threadguiding' plates being' adapted to be shifted by the passage of a carrier along' one guiding edge so as to present another guiding edge to the next following carrier, substantially as described.

29. In a braiding-machine, a shaft carrying an inner wheel, a sleeve-shaft surround ing said wheel-shaft and carrying an outer ring surrounding the inner wheel, gearing for driving said shafts in reverse directions, a braid-receiver in line with the axis of the inner wheel, a series of bobbins mounted on said inner wheel, slidcways on the inner wheel, threadcarriers mounted to be moved in and out in said slideways, threzul-tubes on said carriers, a series of interlacing' or tln'ezul-guiding plates in the path of movement of said carriers and mounted to have a slidingl engagement with the inner wheel, and a bobbin mounted on each guiding-plate, said outer ring having recesses on the inner edge thereof in which said plates are disposed for rotation about the inner wheel, the said plates being' adapted to be 1, shifted by the passage of a carrier along' one edge thereof so as to present the reverse guiding edge to the next following carrier, substantially as described.

ALEXIS LE BLANC. \Vitnesses:

[im H nNRv, H. RUBY. 

